Air conditioner unit



July 7, 1959 s. H. BLUM 2,893,220

AIR CONDITIONER UNIT Filed May 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. H. BLUM AIR CONDIHONER UNIT July 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1956 United States Patent AIR CONDITIONER UNIT Seymour H. Blum, Chicago, 111. i Application May 22, 1956, Serial No. 586,416 3 Claims. (c1. 62-404 This invention relates generally to an air conditioner unit and more particularly is concerned with the structure' of a .cabinetor: housing for an air conditioner of the type which has substantially all of themajor components, including the blower, evaporator, compressor, condenser, water regulator, and other equipment in the same housing.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved structure in which there is provided an entrance or mixing chamber within the housing in'which air from one source, for example, the cold air return of a forced air heating system, and air from a second source, such as for example, the room, are intermingled prior to passing over the evaporator and out through the. blower.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a novel structure in which the resistance to passage of air, through the cabinet or housing is decreased, thereby enabling the increase in the size of the blower without waste of energy, and without the need for increasing the capacity or tonnage of the refrigeration system.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of novel structure for supporting the blower in the cabinet.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of novel structure for forming the mixing chamber and connecting the air inlets to the same. 4

With the'foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being u'n'derstoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from 'thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

' For the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of this invention, there is illu'strated in the accompanying drawingsja preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which,'when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly .and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings: V

Fig. 1 is 'a perspective view of the'complete air condi'tioner unit but with the front panel partially broken away to show the structure.

-Fig.2 is a front elevational view of the air conditioner unit} with the panel removed to show the construction of'the interior thereof. i

Fig.' 3 is a'side elevational view from the air intake side of the unit. Y

Fig.- 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken generally alongthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and in the direction indicated.

The air conditioner unit-is designated generally by the reference character 10 and same is of the so-called cartridge type in which the various components may be arranged in sub-assemblies and assembled together in the cabinet for installation as an integral unit. Thus, the unit shown is made up of three sections or subassemblies which are designated 14, 16 and 18. The lowermost section 14 carries the heavier equipment, such as the compressor, water regulator, heat exchanger or condenser, electrical controls, and the like, all of which may be conventional .and are shown somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings. The next higher section 16 comprises the evaporator section which is the heat exchanger providing direct exchange of heat between the air passing through the unit 10 and the coolant circulating in the refrigeration system. The top section 18 is the blower section which aids in driving air through the unit.

Although different manners of mounting may be utilized, in the example illustrated, each section is mounted in its own box-like framework of structural members, such as for example conventional angle-iron or channel members suitably braced and held together, and the whole assembled in the novel manner described hereinafter.

Referring now'to Fig. 2, the lowermost section which may be termed the compressor? section14, has vertical frame members 20 and 22, transverse bracing members 24 and 26 (Fig. 1),and top and bottom horizontal framing members 28 and 30. Similar opposite framing members are 28 and 30'. Obviously, since the frame supporting the compressor section 14 is of generally box-like formation there will be identical members which are not readily seen in the drawings. Vertical member 22 may be seen in Fig. 4. The box-like formation is assembled by any suitable means such as bolts, brackets, welding or the like, and for example, the bottom corners are reenforced by gusset plates such as at 32, 32' and 34, others of which may be used throughout the unit 10.

For the moment, note that there is an extension 36 of the bottom horizontal framing member 30 which extends to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 a substantial extent. The extension 36 may be provided by means of any suitable bracket, or may be welded to the corner of the section 14, or'may even be integral with the member 30. This latter'expedient may be inconvenient where conventionally available compressor sections are used, since the manufacturer of the section may be required to make special parts.

A similar extension 38 is obviously on the opposite side of .the unit 10.

The evaporator section 16 is set into a box-like framework which includes vertical members 40, 40' and 42 which are aligned with the vertical members 20, 20' and 22 respectively; a top-horizontal framing member 44, and other framing members of angle iron or the like not requiring detailed description for the purpose of explaining the invention. The evaporator section 16 is rigidly mounted to the top of the compressor section 16 in any suitable manner. Horizontal framing members of both sections may be common. As noted, the evaporator section is of the so-called 45 degree angle type, and has a bank of coolant-carrying conduits 46 arranged crosswise from the upper left hand corner of section 16 to the lower right hand corner thereof (Fig. 2).

The bottom of the section 16 is substantially blocked by a drip pan 48 supported on the cross member 28 and its opposite mate. The left hand side of the section is open as is its upper side, but the presence of the bank of conduits 46, which of course comprises the evaporator, blocks passage of air from the left side of the section Patented July 7 1959;

blower'50 driven bya motor 52 and is also formed in abox-like frame formed of vertical members 54, 54' and 56; horizontalframingmembers-'58, 60' and 60, and

transverse bracing members; such-as shown at 62 in- Fig; 1and'62' in Fig. 43

Heretofore, the housing for the blower has been chosen so thatthe'lengthofithe horizontal framingmembers 58" and 60'are'equal to the length'of the horizontal members 28,30 and'44; so that'the air'passed; directly; upward fromthe'evaporator'sectiorr 16 to the blower, and therewas no need for bafiles ofanykind:

In this invention,it'will beiseen'thatthe length of the members 58and60 is such .thatthere isia'snbstantial overhangon thelefttFig. 2)'over'the other'.two sections. In.

enclosingthe unit withsuitabl'e'panels, Whenthe front panel64, right side-panels: 66' and68, left panel 70, and the rear panel 72 are installed as planar-sides of the unit' 19; there is a large entrance or mixing chamber 74 formed between the overhangof the section18 and the left hand side of the sections 14 and'lf. This .chamber is suitably framedby means of additionaLstructural members, such as for example, vertical strin'gers, cross braces, and the like,,although, withthe,installation'of' the side panels, there issufiicient,support'provided by the portion of the blowerv section l8'that overhangs andby the extensions 36' and 38.

In order to prevent air, from bypassing the evaporator 46, abaffie or similar plate 76Iof substantially L-shaped cross section is securedioveiithe.top'v of the chamber 74, transversely of the unit 10,.closing what would otherwise be an-opening in theblower section 18, and also providingadditional bracing and. supportfor. the framework.

The. frameworkof. the. uniti10f is enclosed by means. of panels, previously referred -to,.including the. panels 64, onthe front; 66 and-680a the right hand. side; 70 on the left side;.and'panel-72 on the rear. The panels are secured by any suitablefastening, means to renderv them removable, or for example, only one or more of the panels may be removable In the drawings, the left hand sideof the. device 10, which is covered by the panel 70 is provided with means to admit the air which passes through the-device toheconditioned. In the ordinary installation, this might be considered the rear of the device, because access is mostusually desired by way of the panels 66'and68, which might be considered as the front:

The'tOp of the device is covered by acapping plate or member fitl'which isprovided with flanges to engage the housing. around the outside thereof and which isalso provided. with an. opening 82 to enable the blower 59-to discharge its air into the ductwork'served by the air conditioner 10,.ifducts: areused; Suitable coupling flanges 84 maybe provided;

lathe particular structure illustrated there are provided a pair of. opposite vertical: stringers 86. and 86; which connectv between the extensions; 36 and 38 respectively and the overhanging. portion of theblower section 18; A metal back plate 88 and arplate 90 of insulating material such; as feltor the like may be secured to the stringers 86" and $6 which conveniently are. formed of channel-shaped structural members ofconventional type. Intthe panel 76 across: thersame. and-tadjacent the bottom thereof, .thereis providem a rectangularopening; 92 which admits a short section of sheet metal conduit 94 into the major portion of theupper end. thereof, leaving the. bot: tom of the opening free. A sheet metal framework 96 is rectangularly formed and secured about the opening, the members thereof being of channel structure to admit of a vertically sliding filter 98 which, when in place, is interposed between the conduit 94 and the chamber 74 and is also interposed between the-outside air and the chamber at the bottom of the opening 92.

A suitable slot 100 is provided for a'damper to close off the conduit 94 which is normally connected permanently into the heating system of the ductwork of the building in which=the unitis installed. In times when heated air traverses the ductwork, it is, of course, undesirable, and at least unnecessary, that hot air traverse the interior of the unit 10. Thus, in winter, for example, the damper 102 is in place.

The plate 88 and the insulating member are perforated-in-alignment with the opening in the-panel 70. Both extend'substantially above'the juncture'between the blower section and'the evaporator section 16 to prevent lossofairfrom the chamber 74;

It will be seen that air-enters from the return duct 104- which'is connected into-the ductwork of 'thebuilding, and passes through the filter 98 intothechamber 74.

Simultaneously the blower draws airfrom-the chamber 74 at agreater rate than can-besupplied by the conduit 94-and'hence'air is drawn through the lower part of theopening 92'through theportion of thefilter designated 98 and it commingles with the-duct airinthe chamber 74'.

Through the structure described many-advantages accrue which" are not obviousand-whichare productive of increasedefliciency of the apparatus. the chamber 74 prevents'the immediate inrush of airfrom impinging'against theequipment contained in the compressor section14'and hence the resistance to passage. of ainthrough the device'is decreased. Obviously the capacity of the air capable of beingtransmitted hasincreased, and thus the amount 'of airwhich is passed'into the ductwork is better able to be distributed to cool the building or structure. It is believed that the added efiiciency of the apparatus is .also due to the inter-mixing of the return air from the duct 104 with the air from the basement coming in through the bottom of the opening 92. in the chamber 74. There maybe a pre-cooling before subjecting the passing air to the exchangeof heat in the evaporator.

In any event, the novelty of'the structurelies in the provision of the chamber 74; the overhang of the section 18 because of its being larger than the sections 14 and 16; the novel baflle or bracket .7 6; and various of the other structural features which provide the advantages of the invention.

It is believed that this invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should. also be. manifest that whilea preferred. embodiment of the invention has been shown and describedfor illustrative purposes, the specific details are nevertheless capablezofwide variation'within the purview of this invention as defined in they appendedclaims.

What isclaimed and desired. to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. An air conditioner cabinet of the type in whichthere isan assemblage of sections within a single cabinet, including a compressor section, an evaporator section, and a blower section, each sectionbeing generally box-like and having framing members supporting the same, the cross sectional configuration of the compressor and evaporator sections being rectangular and congruent and the last two sections being mounted one on top the other, and the blower section being also rectangular in cross section but larger in one direction and mOUIJIEdYOIITOP the other two whereby. there.- is; an; overhang, means. enclosing the The presence of assemblage including side panels and a top panel containing the air within the cabinet and forming substantially a monolithic form, there being a chamber beneath said overhang but outside said compressor and evaporator sections, an inlet in one side panel leading to said chamber and an outlet in the top panel leading from the blower section, and a substantially L-shaped cross-section bracket secured at the overhang and blocking passage of air directly from the chamber to the blower section.

2. An air conditioner cabinet of the type in which there is an assemblage of sections within a single cabinet, including a compressor section, an evaporator section, and a blower section, each section being generally boxlike and having framing members supporting the same, the cross sectional configuration of the compressor and evaporator sections being rectangular and congruent and the last two sections being mounted one on top the other, and the blower section being also rectangular in cross section but larger in one direction and mounted on top the other two whereby there is an overhang, means enclosing the assemblage including side panels and a top panel containing the air within the cabinet and forming substantially a monolithic form, there being a chamber beneath said overhang but outside said compressor and evaporator sections, an inlet in one side panel leading to said chamber and an outlet in the top panel leading from the blower section, the inlet to the chamber including an opening adapted to be connected into ductwork external of the cabinet and a second opening to the exterior of the cabinet to admit air from a difierent source, the chamber serving to mix the air before passing same through the evaporator section, a baffle plate covering the overhang portion of the blower section on the bottom thereof to prevent entrance of air from the chamber and force the same to pass through the evaporator section, and structural means framing said chamber including members connected to the bottom of one of said compressor and evaporator sections.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the compressor section is on the bottom and the evaporator section includes a diagonal evaporator closing the same off with means to pass air therethrough so that all air passing from the chamber to the blower must traverse the evaporator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,594 Young Nov. 5, 1940 2,265,272 Ditzler Dec. 9, 1941 2,697,921 Brugler Dec. 28, 1954 

